There were now present at Bear Spring, where the treaty was made, about one hundred and eighty Americans and five hundred Navajo Indians, including all the head chiefs of each of the cantons, composing the powerful tribe of MOUNTAIN LORDS and SCOURGERS of New Mexico. The parties being all present, to whom power was delegated to conclude a lasting peace between the three nations, the Navajos, Mexicans and Americans, the treaty was commenced on the 21^st, Col. Doniphan first stating explicitly, through an interpreter, T. Caldwell, the objects of his visit and the designs and intentions of his government. One of their chiefs, Sarcilla Largo, a young man, very bold and intellectual, spoke for them. “He was gratified to learn the views of the Americans. He admired their spirit and enterprise, but detested the Mexicans”. Their speeches were delivered alternately during the whole day. At sunset the parties adjourned to meet again the following day.

            Meanwhile  they repaired to their respective camps, the Americans posting out sentinels that they might not be surprised and massacred by the Navajos through treachery; and these that they might not come into the power of the Americans without their own consent.

            On the 22d, Capt. Waldo having come with one hundred and fifty men, swelling the aggregate number of Americans present to three hundred and thirty, the treaty was recommenced. Col. Doniphan now explained to the chiefs, “that the United States had taken military possession of New Mexico; that her laws were now extended over that territory, that the New Mexicans would be protected against violence and invasion; and that their rights would be amply preserved to them; and that the United States was also anxious to enter into a treat of peace and lasting friendship with her red children, the Navajos; that same protection would be given them against encroachments, and the usurpation of their rights, as had been guaranteed the New Mexicans; that the United States claimed all the country by right of conquest, and both they and the New Mexicans were now become equally her children; that he had come with ample powers to negociate (sic) a permanent peace between the Navajos, the Americans and the New Mexicans; and if they refused to treat on terms honorable to both parties, he was instructed to prosecute war against them.” He also admonished them, “to enter into no treaty stipulations unless they meant to observe them strictly and in good faith; and that the United States made no second treaty with the same people; that she first offered the olive branch, and, if that were rejected, then powder, bullet, and steel.

            Then the same chief, of great sagacity and boldness, stood up and replied to the American commander thus: “Americans! you have a strange cause of war against the Navajos. We have waged war against the New Mexicans for several years. We have plundered their villages and killed many of their people, and made many prisoners. We had just cause for all this. You have lately commenced a war against the same people. You are powerful. You have great guns and many brave soldiers. You have therefore conquered them, the very thing we have been attempting to do for so many years. You now turn upon us for attempting to do what you have done yourselves. We cannot see why you have cause of quarrel with us for fighting the New Mexicans on the west, while you do the same thing on the east. Look how matters stand. This is our war. We have more right to complain of you for interfering in our war, than you to quarrel with us for continuing a war we had begun long before you got here. If you will act justly, you will allow us to settle our own differences.”

            Col. Doniphan then explained, “that the New Mexicans had surrendered; that they desired no more fighting; that it was the custom with the Americans when a people gave up, to treat them as friends thenceforward; that we now had full possession of New Mexico, and had attached it to our government; that the whole country and everything in it had become ours by conquest; and that when they now stole property from the New Mexicans, they were stealing from us; and that when they killed them, they were killing our people, for they had now become ours; that this could not be suffered any longer; that it would be greatly to their advantage for the Americans to settle in New Mexico, and that they then could open a valuable trade with us, by which they could obtain everything they needed to eat and wear in exchange for their furs and peltries.”

            Col. Doniphan then invited their young men to the United States to learn trades, as he discovered them to be very ingenious, that they might be serviceable to their people. This pleased them, and they desired very much to accompany him to the United States, but they did not wish to go through Chihuahua, for they feared the Mexicans would kill them. This induced them not to go.

            Then the same chief said: -- “If New Mexico be really in your possession, and it be the intention of your government to hold it, we will cease our depredations, and refrain from future wars upon that people; for we have no cause of quarrel with you, and do not desire to have any war with so powerful a nation. Let there be peace between us.” This was the end of the speaking. After which the following articles of treaty were signed by both parties.

 

Memorandum of a treaty entered into between Colonel A. W. Doniphan, commanding the United States’ forces in the Navajo country, and the chiefs of the Navajo Nation of Indians, viz. Sarcilla Largo, Caballa de Mucho, Alexandro, Sandoval , Kiatanito, Jose’ Largo, Narbona, Sagundo, Pedro Jose’ Manuelito, Tapio, and Archulette’, at the Ojo Oso, Navajo Country, November 22d, 1846.

 

ART. I.  A firm and lasting peace and amity shall henceforth exist between the American people and the Navajo tribe of Indians.

 

ART 2. The people of New Mexico and the Pueblo Indians are included in the term American people.

 

ART 3. A mutual trade, as between people of the same nation, shall be carried on between these several parties; the Americans, Mexicans, and Pueblos being free to visit all portions of the Navajo country and the Navajos all portions of the American country without molestation, and full protection shall be mutually given.

 

ART. 4. There shall be mutual restoration of all prisoners, the several parties being pledged to redeem by purchase such as may not be exchanged each for each.

 

ART. 5. All property taken by either party from the other, since the 18^th day of August, last, shall be restored.

 

The undersigned, fully empowered to represent and pledge to the above articles their respective nations, have accordingly hereunto signed their names and affixed their seals.

 

Alexander W. Doniphan

Colonel commanding 1^st Regt. Missouri Volunteers.

Congreve Jackson

Lieutenant-colonel commanding 1^st Battalion

William Gilpin

Major commanding the 2d Battalion

 

Signatures of the Navajo Chiefs

 

His                                                                           His

Sarcilla Largo,                   X                             Sagundo,                               X

mark                                                                       mark

 

Caballada de Mucho,              “                              Pedro Jose,                             “

 

Alexandro,                              “                              Manuelito,                               “

 

Sandoval,                                “                              Tapio,                                      “

 

Kiatanito,                               “                              Archulette,                              “

 

Jose Largo,                             “                              Juanico,                                  “

 

Narbona,                                 “                              Savoietta Garcia,                   “

 

 

The colonel then gave them some presents, which he had carried out from Santa Fe, for that purpose, explicitly stating that these presents were made, not by way of purchasing their friendship, for this the Americans were not accustomed to do, but were given as a testimony of his personal goodwill and friendship towards them,, and as sign that peace should exist between them.

In return the chief presented Col. Doniphan with several fine Navajo blankets, the manufacture of which discovers great ingenuity, having been spun and woven without the advantage of wheels or looms, by a people living in the open air, without houses, or tents.  Of these the colors are exceedingly brilliant, and the designs and figures are in good taste.  The fabric is not only so thick and compact as to turn rain, but to hold water as a vessel. They are used by the Navajos as a cloak in the daytime and converted into a pallet at night. Col. Doniphan designs sending those which he brought home with him to the war department at Washington, as specimens of Navajo manufacture.

Thus after almost unparalleled exertion a treaty of peace was concluded between the Navajos, New Mexicans, and Americans, in a manner honorable to all parties. This was a novel, highly important and interesting proceeding. The Navajos and New Mexicans had been at war from immemorial time. The frontier between them had been the scene of continual bloodshed and rapine. At this crisis, the Americans, the enemies of the one, and strangers to the other, step in and accommodate their differences by a triple league, which secures peace between all three. This, together with his previous services, and subsequent achievements, not only entitles Col. Doniphan to wear the laurel, but also the olive, for he justly earned the distinguished titles of VICTOR AND PACIFICATOR. .